Longtime member of Alpine ski patrol dies day after avalanche

One day after he was caught in an avalanche at Alpine Meadows, a member of the resort's ski patrol team has died.

Bill Foster passed away at Renown Hospital in Reno, according to a statement from Squaw Valley, which partners with Alpine.

"Bill was one of Alpine Meadows' very best and most experienced professional ski patrollers," the statement reads. "Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers continue to be with Bill's wife and all of their family and friends."

Foster was skiing in the Sherwood Bowl about 10:45 a.m. Monday when the ski patrollers set off the avalanche. They were performing routine snow safety at the time, in an area closed to the public, the resort said.

A senior member of the team threw an explosive, triggering the avalanche.

However, it broke much higher and wider on the slope than it had in the past, burying Foster.

He was found in one minute and uncovered within eight minutes, officials said.